PROTECTING THE LEGAL INTERESTS OF INJURED HAWAII RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SINCE 1973

Legal Aspects Of Hawaii Aviation Accidents Handled Professionally

Hawaii’s location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean makes it a major airline hub between the U.S. mainland, Asia and the Pacific Rim. Hawaii’s stunning natural beauty makes it a favorite for helicopter and airplane flightseeing trips for visitors who want to see volcanoes and tropical scenery from the air. Unfortunately, no matter how safe the aviation industry appears, accidents do occur, usually with catastrophic results. Hawaii’s airspace is well-used by a full range of aircraft, including jet airliners, commuter planes, helicopters, small private planes and recreational airborne devices such as paragliders. Mechanical, pilot and air traffic control errors sometimes lead to aviation accidents.

Representing Passengers, Crew Members And Others

When tragedy strikes in the air, survivors turn to the Honolulu law firm of Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks for skilled and professional legal guidance. Although no amount of money can compensate injury victims or surviving family members for what they have lost, a financial recovery can provide for the future and help prevent similar accidents. Our lawyers have represented dozens of individuals – passengers, pilots and other crew members – who were injured in aviation accidents. Our knowledge of aviation accidents extends beyond the legal aspects to an understanding of the nature of aircraft such as helicopters. Our lawyers talk the talk of airplanes and helicopters. We understand the terminology used by experts who assist us in the development of compelling injury claims.

Helicopter Accident Cases In Hawaii

Helicopter tours are extremely popular in Hawaii. However, they can also be very dangerous. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there were 18 helicopter crashes between 2015 and 2019. These accidents all resulted in serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, broken bones and others. Unfortunately, these accidents also caused the death of numerous passengers and flight crew.

It has been noted that in the majority of helicopter crashes, the cause of the accident was either related to the weather or the maintenance of the helicopter. If a helicopter is not properly maintained or contains faulty parts, the owner of the helicopter and/or the manufacturer of the parts can be held liable for the accident. If the crash is weather-related, the pilot of the helicopter and the tour company may be held responsible, as it is their duty to assess weather conditions.

Experienced Lawyer, Experienced Aviator

Attorney Rick Fried has a special interest in aviation and flying. He had a 25-year Air Force career, flew in an F-4 Phantom jet fighter during the Vietnam era and served as the Hawaii liaison for the Air Force Academy until he retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve in 2001. Rick Fried was lead counsel in trials in a San Francisco federal court that resulted in successful recoveries for Hawaii passengers and crew in a 1989 airplane disaster. A United Airlines flight 811 Boeing 747 sustained catastrophic depressurization when a cargo door blew off at high altitude after takeoff from Honolulu International Airport. The incident resulted in severe injuries and deaths to passengers and crew. Rick Fried was also lead attorney for the Aloha Airlines flight 243 Boeing 737 jet that lost part of its roof on an interisland flight in 1988, resulting in passenger injuries and the death of a crew member.

Contact Us Today And Learn About Your Options

Because of our law firm’s reputation for astute handling of aviation accidents, we often receive cases as referrals from other law firms. When it makes sense to do so, we readily act as co-counsel with these other attorneys to provide the best legal representation for injured clients or survivors when aviation accidents have resulted in death. Contact our firm to discuss your legal options if you or a loved one was injured in a helicopter crash, a small plane accident or a major aviation accident. Call us locally in Honolulu at 808-600-3514 to schedule a free consultation. You may also send us an email.